HoopTalk – Brewster Academy

As someone from New England, I’ve always felt there’s a unique vibe surrounding prep school basketball here. The New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) stands as one of the nation’s most renowned interscholastic leagues, encompassing prestigious high schools across Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. Yet, amid this elite landscape, one institution reigns supreme: Brewster Academy. Dubbed an “NBA Factory,” head coach Jason Smith has transformed this lakeside school in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, into a national powerhouse.

I first grasped the essence of Brewster Academy while watching their 2019 National Championship team dominate in New London. That squad appeared stacked with future NBA stars—though not all paths unfolded as expected, they remain one of the greatest high school teams I’ve ever seen. The roster included Terrence Clarke (RIP), Jalen Lecque (G League), Alonzo Gaffney (Arizona State), Kai Jones (NBA), Joel Brown (Cal), Anthony Walker (Miami), Zane Meeks (Nevada), and Jamal Mashburn Jr. (New Mexico). This kind of talent depth is standard for Brewster—rosters brimming with high-major Division I prospects.

Add to that an illustrious alumni list featuring Donovan Mitchell, Thomas Robinson, Will Barton, T.J. Warren, Devonte’ Graham, Kadary Richmond, Devin Carter, Taylor Bol Bowen, Solomon Ball, Daniel Jacobsen, Ebuka Okorie, Killian Toure, and more—all of whom have tasted NBA action or are on the cusp of it. Jason Smith could assemble a formidable NBA lineup solely from the players he’s coached. If you ever get the opportunity, make the trip to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire—you won’t regret it.